Man, 2023 was a weird year to be a Husker fan. Honestly, it felt like we were watching a defensive masterclass paired with an offense that, well, mostly just tripped over its own feet. If you look back at the Nebraska football schedule 2023, you see a 5-7 record and think, "Same old Nebraska." But if you actually watched those games? It was a rollercoaster of "almosts" that would drive any sane person to drink a lot of Kool-Aid.
Matt Rhule came in with a massive reputation for rebuilding programs, but he inherited a situation that was—to put it lightly—kind of a mess. The 2023 season was the first chapter of that era. It wasn't always pretty. Actually, for long stretches, it was pretty painful. But it gave us a look at what this team could be if they ever figured out how to hang onto the football.
The Brutal Opening Act
The season kicked off on a Thursday night in late August. August 31, to be exact. Everyone was buzzing. Rhule’s debut. New quarterback Jeff Sims. A Big Ten road game against Minnesota.
It looked like Nebraska had it. They were up 10-3 late in the fourth. Then, everything that could go wrong did. A fumble, a miraculous toe-tap touchdown by Minnesota’s Daniel Jackson, and a last-second field goal. Huskers lose 13-10. It was a gut punch. You could almost hear the collective groan from Omaha to Scottsbluff.
Then came the Colorado game on September 9.
Everyone was talking about Deion Sanders. The hype was deafening. Nebraska went into Boulder and basically handed the Buffaloes the game with turnovers. Four of them, specifically. The final score was 36-14, but it felt worse because the defense actually played okay for a half before the dam broke.
September Recovery and the October Spark
After that 0-2 start, things stabilized a bit.
- September 16: Beat Northern Illinois 35-11.
- September 23: Handled Louisiana Tech 28-14.
Then came Michigan on September 30. Look, Michigan was a juggernaut. They ended up winning the national title for a reason. They rolled into Lincoln and dismantled Nebraska 45-7. It was a reality check. Nebraska just wasn't in that weight class yet.
But then, October happened. For the first time since 2001, Nebraska went undefeated in the month of October. Yeah, you read that right.
They beat Illinois on a Friday night (October 6) in a game that was mostly a defensive slugfest, 20-7. Then they had a bye week. They came back on October 21 and grinded out a 17-9 win over Northwestern. A week later, on October 28, they beat Purdue 31-14. Suddenly, the Huskers were 5-3. They only needed one more win to go to a bowl game. One win in four tries.
The November Heartbreak
This is where the Nebraska football schedule 2023 turns into a tragedy. Four games left. Four chances to get that sixth win.
They went to East Lansing on November 4 to play a Michigan State team that was struggling. Nebraska turned it over three times. They lost 20-17.
The next week, November 11, was Maryland at home. Another low-scoring, defensive battle. Another three turnovers. Another 13-10 loss. At this point, you could feel the panic setting in. The bowl drought was staring them in the face.
The Final Two Chances
Wisconsin was up next on November 18. Camp Randall at night is never easy. Nebraska actually played well! They took it to overtime. But once again, they couldn't finish the deal, losing 24-17.
Finally, Black Friday. November 24. The Heroes Trophy against Iowa.
It was the quintessential 2023 Nebraska game. The defense was elite. The offense was... not. Chubba Purdy was playing quarterback at this point. With the game tied 10-10, Nebraska had the ball late. An interception set Iowa up, and the Hawkeyes kicked a field goal as time expired to win 13-10.
Five wins. Seven losses. No bowl game.
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Why the 2023 Results Still Matter
If you just look at the scores, it’s depressing. But 2023 proved that Tony White is a wizard. The Nebraska defense finished the year ranked in the top 15 nationally in several categories. They allowed only 18.2 points per game. That’s elite.
The problem was the offense. Between Jeff Sims, Heinrich Haarberg, and Chubba Purdy, the Huskers turned the ball over 31 times. You can't win like that. It doesn't matter if you have the 1985 Bears defense; if you give the ball away three times a game, you're going to lose close ones. And Nebraska lost five games by seven points or fewer.
2023 Nebraska Football Results Table
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | @ Minnesota | Loss | 10-13 |
| Sept 9 | @ Colorado | Loss | 14-36 |
| Sept 16 | Northern Illinois | Win | 35-11 |
| Sept 23 | Louisiana Tech | Win | 28-14 |
| Sept 30 | Michigan | Loss | 7-45 |
| Oct 6 | @ Illinois | Win | 20-7 |
| Oct 21 | Northwestern | Win | 17-9 |
| Oct 28 | Purdue | Win | 31-14 |
| Nov 4 | @ Michigan State | Loss | 17-20 |
| Nov 11 | Maryland | Loss | 10-13 |
| Nov 18 | @ Wisconsin | Loss | 17-24 (OT) |
| Nov 24 | Iowa | Loss | 10-13 |
Basically, the 2023 season was a year of "what ifs." If they had just a slightly better turnover margin, they probably win eight or nine games. But that's football. Matt Rhule’s first year wasn't the breakthrough people hoped for, but it laid a defensive foundation that the program hadn't seen in a decade.
If you're looking back at this schedule to understand the current state of the program, focus on the defense. That's the identity now. The offense is still a work in progress, but the days of Nebraska getting blown out by everyone are mostly over—except for the occasional run-in with a team like Michigan.
Actionable Insights for Husker Fans:
- Watch the defensive tape: If you want to feel good about the program, re-watch the Illinois or Northwestern games from 2023. The scheme Tony White runs is complex and fun to track.
- Check the turnover stats: When evaluating any game from that season, look at the turnover margin first. It almost perfectly predicts the outcome of every game on that list.
- Contextualize the 5-7 record: Realize that Nebraska was essentially four plays away from being 9-3. It’s a fine line between a "failed" season and a "great" one.